This film is set in 1986 Iran and revolves around the story of a journalist named Sahebjam who finds himself conversing with a woman named Zahra, after his car breaks down in a desolate village. Zahra tells Sahebjam the story about Soraya, her niece, who got married to an abusive tyrant before she was finally stoned to death. The journalist records the tale on his tape recorder while he plans how to escape alive if he wants the world to learn about Soraya’s death.
In what Zahra recounts, Soraya is married to Ali who not only wants to divorce her because he wishes to marry a 14-year-old but also wants custody of his two sons with Soraya. The village mullah tries to convince Soraya to become Ali’s lover in exchange of financial support for her two daughters. In a desperate attempt to get rid of Soraya, her husband spreads rumours about her infidelity and adultery. Upon being convicted of the false accusations, Soraya is sentenced to death by stoning. When the conviction is briefly upheld, the mayor of the village asks Allah for a sign so that the villagers know that they are doing the right thing.
After hearing the tale, Sahebjam is faced with hindrances when he tries to flee but eventually he succeeds. Stoning of Soraya M is based on real events that took place in Iran and it depicts the various social evils that exist within closed communities, including polygamy, child sexual abuse, domestic violence and marital rape.
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Stoning of Soraya M (2008) This film is set in 1986 Iran and revolves around the story of a journalist named Sahebjam who finds himself conversing with a woman named Zahra, after his car breaks down in a desolate village. |
